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Burton at the BBC

Classic Excerpts from the BBC Archive

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About this listen

Highlights from Richard Burton's finest BBC radio performances from the 1940s to the 1980s.

Richard Burton was one of the most famous British actors of the twentieth century, renowned for his magical, mellifluous voice. Before Hollywood tempted him away, he worked frequently for the BBC and many of his most electrifying performances were recorded there.

This classic compilation features some of the very best of Burton, including his very first radio role in The Corn is Green; the heroic Roland in The Dark Tower; the apocalyptic poem 'Fire and Ice'; Henry V on the eve of Agincourt; the spine-tingling Under Milk Wood and the poignant In Parenthesis. Also included is the complete recording of Emlyn Williams' suspenseful thriller Night Must Fall.

In addition, there are extracts from interviews in which Burton talks about Dylan Thomas, his love of rugby, his deepest ambition and his own feelings about his incomparable voice.

Whether performing Shakespeare, reading Robert Frost or simply talking about his life and career, Burton is never less than compelling, and this unique anthology is a superb tribute to one of the great icons of stage and screen.

©2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2015 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Entertainment & Performing Arts
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The main criticisms I've read in the reviews for this compilation have mentioned the lack of a track list. I thought I'd rectify that. The tracks are as follows.

Burton On Rugby (interview excerpt)
The Corn Is Green (extracts)
"Some Say The World Will End In Fire" (poem, likely Robert Frost's "Fire and Ice")
Henry V (extract)
The 'Burton Voice' (interview excerpt)
The Dark Tower (extract)
In Parenthesis (extract)
Richard Burton On Dylan Thomas (interview excerpt)
Under Milk Wood (extracts)
Night Must Fall (Part 1)
Night Must Fall (Part 2)

I thought the performances wonderful, the interviews fascinating. The play 'Night Must Fall' was very dark, very entertaining.

Wonderful

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A collection of Burton's recordings presented without thought or care and with no introductions, no titles, no cast lists. A lamentable waste!

Treasures compiled by cretins.

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Classy acting from Richard Burton.

The measure of word through his use of articulation and diction cannot be underestimated.

It is that skill alone, apart from his acting, that stands out tremendously.

I would definitely recommend this audiobook to anyone.

I feel that Burton is as equally influential and as good and great as Sir John Betjemen.

Classy

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With only chapter numbers, I had no idea what content I was listening to except that the title of this "book" was Burton at the BBC. Presumably Audible Amazon think that details are unimportant. I had no idea what poem, play, interview, year etc were playing. We need a return to proper information on digital material. CD sleeves and LP sleeves were invaluable for this. This frustration aside, Burton's voice a real treat to hear. Still missed.

Burton wonderful. Audible awful!

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Okay but Richard absent on a few of these tracks. Still, absorbing enough and nostalgic.

Not all Burton

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